It marked the third consecutive year the Falcons have ousted Kecoughtan from region play and like its predecessors, was a near-even match between unbeaten teams.

Cox, 15-0-1, advanced to Wednesday's championship game against Churchland, 11-4-1, a 4-0 victor over Maury in Monday's opener.

Kecoughtan finished at 12-1.

"That's the best game anyone has given us this season," Cox Coach Jim Snodgrass said. "We were a little disoriented after they scored the first goal because that's the first time we've been behind all year.

"They took it to us, but we righted ourselves and Allen really gave us a big lift."

Season-leading Kecoughtan scorer Eddie Ramey headed in a Dustin Farr throw-in 10 minutes into the game for a 1-0 advantage. It was Ramey's ninth goal.

Allen, a junior transfer from England, headed in the tying goal with 9:16 left in the first half.

"I knew one goal wasn't going to stand up," Kecoughtan Coach Alan Lindsay said. "But like young teams have a tendency to do, we tried to sit on the lead. We had some opportunities and our keeper Sean (Harrington) gave us some huge saves."

Harrington was tested far more than his Cox counterpart Jonathan Morris, finishing with 11 saves to the latter's three.

Lindsay was pleased with his team's overall performance, citing its youth as opposed to a Cox team with 10 senior starters.

"We don't have any kind of block about Beach teams after losing to Cox three years in a row. We like playing them, and have played them close each time."

Allen's decisive goal came on a crossing pass from Todd Whelan to the middle of the penalty area. Kecoughtan's Harrington rushed out about 15 yards on a save attempt, but Allen flicked the ball by him.

"He didn't touch it and I was able to flick it by him," Allen said. "I didn't hit it hard because I knew the net was open."

Allen played soccer for a "very competitive team" before his father's job transfer brought him to Cox last fall.

"I was very surprised by the level of competition here," he said. "It's good soccer."